Comparison of Factors Associated with Hepatitis B and C in Different Age Groups of Patients Visiting A Tertiary Hospital in Lahore
A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Objective:
To compare the risk factors and the possible mode of acquisition of Hepatitis B and C in patients of different ages
Methodology:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Lahore General Hospital from January 2020 to June 2020. Total 350 previously unscreened patients with ages between 16 and 55 years were included in the study after approval from the Ethical Review Committee of PGMI/LGH (095/20- 8/6/20). Patients were grouped according to age: Group 1 (16-35 years) and Group 2 (36-55 years). Screening was done by ELISA technique. Data was collected through questionnaire and was analyzed on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.
Results:
Incidence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) was found to be more common than Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in both genders. Risk of developing viral infection in both genders increases with age. Use of I/V drugs, barber shave (via razor), dental procedures, and body piercing were the risk factors of developing infection observed in more in Group 2. Co-infection was observed more in males in Group 2.
Conclusion:
Major contributors for Hepatitis B and C are the use of unsterilized injections and unscreened blood during dental procedures and blood transfusions and visits to community barbers. Awareness regarding equipment sterilization for both the age groups may help in reducing the burden of infection in this community.
References
Tucker JD, Meyers K, Best J, Kaplan K, Pendse R, Fenton KA, et al. The Hep Test Contest: a global innovation contest to identify approaches to hepatitis B and C testing. BMC Infec Dis. 2017;17(1):177-85.
Altawalah H, Essa S, Ezzikouri S, Al-Nakib W. Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections among people who inject drugs in Kuwait: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):1-5.
Mehmood S, Raza H, Abid F, Saeed N, Rehman HM, Javed S.et.al. National prevalence rate of hepatitis B and C in Pakistan and its risk factors. J Pub Health. 2019; 4:1-4.
Ali SA, Donahue RMJ, Qureshi H, Vrtmunf SH. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Pakistan: prevalence and risk factors. Int J of Infect Dis. 2009;13:9-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2008.06.019
Baha W, Foullous A, Dersi N, They-they TP, Nourichafi N, Oukkache B, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections among the general population and blood donors in Morocco. BMC Pub Health. 2013;13(1):1-8.
Degenhardt L, Charlson F, Stanaway J, Larney S, Alexander LT, Hickman M, et al. Estimating the burden of disease attributable to injecting drug use as a risk factor for HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016;16(12):1385-98.
Bernieh B. Viral hepatitis in hemodialysis: An update. J Transl Int Med. 2015;3(3):93-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jtim-2015-0018
Khan F, Shams S, Qureshi ID, Israr M, Khan H, Sarwar MT, et al. Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab. Virol J. 2011;8(1):1-5.
Xiao J, Wang F, Wong NK, He J, Zhang R, Sun R, et al. Global liver disease burdens and research trends: analysis from a Chinese perspective. J Hepatol. 2019;71(1):212-21.
Akhtar H, Badshah Y, Akhtar S, Hassan F, Faisal M, Qadri I. Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C Virus infections among male to female (MFT) transgenders in Rawalpindi (Pakistan). Adv Life Sci. 2018;5(2):46-55.
Ullah Q, Khan K, Saeed K, Rehman H, Muhammad A, khattak S. et al. Prevalence of Hepatitis C and B in MURCY Hospital Peshawar, KP, Pakistan. J Entomol Zoo Stud. 2017;5(4):1081–4.
Shedain PR, Devkota MD, Banjara MR, Ling H, Dhital S. Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B infection among mothers and children with hepatitis B infected mother in upper Dolpa, Nepal. BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):1-9.
Kinner SA, Snow K, Wirtz AL, Altice FL, Beyrer C, Dolan K. Age-specific global prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and tuberculosis among incarcerated people: a systematic review. J Adol Health. 2018;62(3):S18-26.
Khan AJ, Luby SP, Fikree F, Karim A, Obaid S, Dellawala S, et al. Unsafe injections and the transmission of hepatitis B and C in a periurban community in Pakistan. Bulletin WHO. 2000;78:956-63.
Ranani SM, Abdullah M, Ahmed E, Javed A. Perceptions Regarding Hepatitis B and C diseases, and their Risk Factors among Ward Boys Working in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Islamabad. Res Square. 2020. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-36744/v1
Aziz S, Memon A, Tily HI, Rasheed K, Jehangir K, Quraishy MS. Prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C amongst health workers of Civil Hospital Karachi. J Pak Med Assoc. 2002;52(3):92-4.
Dahiya P, Kamal R, Sharma V, Kaur S. "Hepatitis" - Prevention and management in dental practice. J Educ Health Promot. 2015;4:33.
Al Kanaani Z, Mahmud S, Kouyoumjian SP, Abu-Raddad LJ. The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in Pakistan: systematic review and meta-analyses. Royal Soc Open Sci. 2018;5(4):180257.
Riaz H, Riaz T, Ullah F, Aziz S, Khan MU, Pervaiz R, et al. Assessment of the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis B, viral hepatitis C and HIV in multitransfused thalassaemia major patients in Karachi, Pakistan. Tropical Doc. 2011;41(1):23-5.
Luby SP, Qamruddin K, Shah AA, Omair A, Pahsa O, Khan AJ, et al. The relationship between therapeutic injections and high prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Hafizabad, Pakistan. Epidemiol & Infection. 1997;119(3):349-56.
Brown CR, MacLachlan JH, Cowie BC. Addressing the increasing global burden of viral hepatitis. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutrition. 2017;6(4):274.
Sharew NT, Mulu GB, Habtewold TD, Gizachew KD. Occupational exposure to sharps injury among healthcare providers in Ethiopia regional hospitals. Ann Occupational Environ Med. 2017;29(1):1-7.
de Almeida SM, de Pereira AP, Pedroso ML, Ribeiro CE, Rotta I, Tang B, et al. Neurocognitive impairment with hepatitis C and HIV co-infection in Southern Brazil. J Neurovirol. 2018;24(3):339-49.
Schulte B, Schmidt CS, Strada L, Rosenkranz M, Schäfer I, Verthein U, et al. Hepatitis C virus prevalence and incidence in a large nationwide sample of patients in opioid substitution treatment in Germany: a prospective cohort study. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;70(10):2199-205.
